Automatic tablet counting and bottle filling machine



l Sept. 19, 1950 G. V. CREMIEU AUTOMATIC TABLET COUNT ING AND BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed April '7. 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GEORGE V CRI-:MIEUX BMW G. v. cREMlEUx 2,523,098 AUTOMATIC TABLET couNTING AND f BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1949 6 Sheets-ShamI 2 Sept. 19, 195o INVENTOR. GEORGE V CREMIEUX Sept. 19, 1950 G. v. cREMn-:Ux 2,523,098

AUTOMATIC TABLET coUNTTNG AND BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 7. 1949 f. INVENTOR.

GEORGE V. CREMrEux ./E. A 5mm@ Sept. 19, 1950 CRE G. V. MIEUX AUTOMATIC TABLET COUNTING AND BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 7. 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 GEORGE V CREMu-zux BYI@ MM5/My G. AUTOMATIC TABLET COUNTING AND v. cREMlEUx Sept. 19, 195o BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1949 INVENToR. GEORGE V CB1-:MIEUX .ATHEN/5y Sept. 19, 1950 G. v. cREMlEux AUTOMATIC `TABLET COUNTING AND BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 7. 1949 INVENroR. GEQRGE V CREMlEux Patented Sept. 19, 1950 y UNITED AUTOMATIC TABLET lCOUNTING AND BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE `George V. Cremieux, Orange, N. J.

Application April '7, 1949, Serial No. 86,049

15 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic tablet counting and bottle filling machine.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an impro-ved machine which is automatic in its operation to count outa given number of medicinal tablets or the like and then spill the counted out tables into their receiving bottles by one simple operation of apivotally mounted lever.

Another object of the present invention proposes the construction of av machineV which is efficient in operation, which can be efficiently op erated by a single operator who need only keep the hopper of the machine filled with the tabletsftoV be bottled, place the bottles ori-the end ofthe chutes from which the counted tablets discharge and pivot the control lever.

, lStill another object of the present invention` proposes-providing the machine with a counting Y board down which the tablets slide underthe -influenceof gravity with means within the'v hopper arranged in a manner to insure that the tab- Ylets will be fed intothe counting board in the desired single iile. Y

A still further object ofthe present invention vproposes providing the ,machine with a gate normally closing the lower end of the counting board andarranged in a manner to be lowered to per mitthe counted out tablets to enter the chutes and spill 4into the receiving bottles positioned on theends of the chutes.

.A further object ofthe present invention proposes fa mechanism arranged in connection with the counting board for holding all of the tablets on the board, above the counted out tablets, back while the gate is in its lowered position so that only the counted tablets will spill from the boardr into the chutes. g

- l The present invention further proposes connecting the gate and the holding mechanism to thepivotally mounted lever in a manner so that pivoting the leverwill cause the holding mechanism to be brought into operation to hold back the desired tablets after which the gate is lowered i to free' the counted out tablets.

It is also an object of the present invention to make the counting board removable in a manner so that it can be removed when desired to be replaced by other counting boards designed to accommodate tablets of different diameters.

. A still further object of the present invention proposes slidably mounting the hopper for movement relative to the counting boardand to mount the holding mechanism to move with the hopper in a manner so that moving the hopper will also adjust the holding mechanism to permit any desired number of tablets to becounted out by the machine. i

It is a further object of the present invention to l construct a tablet counting and bottle filling machine vvhich is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.)

For further comprehension of the invention,v and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference 4will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appendedK claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

`In the accompanying drawings forming a ma4 terialrpart of this disclosure:

Fig. 1v is a front elevational view of the automatic tabletcounting and bottle filling machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View looking fromV the right side Aof Fig. 1.

f Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a, horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig.y 1.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. i

v calsectional view taken substantially fon the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed plan View of a portion of Fig. 3.

1 Fig. 9 isa partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 9 9. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial horizontal section; al viewtakenlon the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 1l `is a partial vertical sectional View taken on the line II-II of Fig.v 10. f

Fig. l2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line |2-I2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 6, but illustrating the tablet counting and bottl-ff lling machine constructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a partial perspective view of the U- shaped member used in the form of the inventionshown in Fig, 13.

The automatictablet counting and bottle lling machine, according to the first form of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to `12, includes a frame 20, constructed of wood, which is to be,` rested on a table or other elevated support. The frame 20 is comprised of .a'base wall 2|, vertical yside walls 22 and a low back Wall 23 mounted between the side walls 22 and attached at its bottom edge to the rear edge of the base wall 2|. It is the base wall 2| which is rested on the table or other elevated support, not shown.

The top ends of the side walls 22 are inclined downward and forward, and attached to the inside faces of the side walls 22, at the top ends thereof, there is a pair of guide rails 24, see Figs. 1, 2 and '1. The guide rails 24 are formed of wood and are inclined downward and forward parallel to the downwardly and forwardly inclined top. edges of the side walls 22. The guide rails 24 are secured in position with their top faces slightly Y above the top edges of the side walls 22, as shown in Fig. 7, by means of nails 25.

Extended between the adjacent faces of the guide rails 24 there are connecting stringers 26, 21, 28 and 29 for holding the guide rails even and parallelly spaced and for providing mountings for certain of the parts of the machine, as will become clear as this specification proceeds. The Stringer 28- is somewhat narrower than the other stringers for a purpose which will be explained later in this specication.

A hopper 3G is adjustably mounted on the'portions of the guide rails 24 which project above the top ends of the side walls 22 of the frame 2l). The hopper 3|!Y is formed of spaced side walls 3| which have the back portions of their bottom edges inclined downward and forward parallel to the downward and forward inclination of the guide rails 24 and the front portions of their bottom edges inclined upwardly and forwardly from the bottom edges of the downwardly and forwardly inclined rear portions. The rear ends of the side walls 3| are connected together by a back wall 3 2 secured in position by several bolts 33. Secured inpositionbetween the upwardly and forwardly inclined front portions of the` side. walls 3|', there is a bottom wall 34', which is held in position by several bolts 35. The bottom of the hopper 3U is open between the rearV edge of the bottom wall Y 34 and the bottom edge of the back wall 32.

Extending laterally from the outer facesof the sidewalls 3| of the hopper 30, there are ledges 36 andbeneath the ledges there are angle irons 31. The angle irons 31 have horizontal arms 38 extended along the bottom faces of the ledges 3B and to which the ledges are secured by several screws 39. The angle irons 31 also have vertical arms 40 extended along the outer faces of the guide rails 24. Bolts 4| extend through the guide rails 24 and project through elongated slots 42 formed in the vertical arms 411 of the angle irons 31.k Tubes 43 are engaged on the outer ends of the bolts 4| andare engaged by thumb nuts 44 threaded onto the'bolts 4 Iv for clamping the angle irons 31 in adjusted positions on the guide rails 24. In the loosened condition of the thumb nuts 44, the angle irons 31 together with the hopper 30 can be adjusted on the guide rails 24 within lzie limits of the length of the elongated slots Vertically slidably mounted on the front face of the Stringer 21, there is a gate 45 formed of a length of'metal' and which has forwardly extending front flange 45.. The gate 45 is vertically slidably supported by several screws 41 which pass through spacedxvertical slots 48 formed in the gate 45 and which threadedly engage the Stringer 21. Elongated flexible wires 49, each have one of their ends secured to one of the guide rails 24 by means of screws 55', see Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and their free ends of the wires 49 are projected across the bottom face of the flange 46 of the gate for normally holding the gate in a raised position in which its top edge is projected above the top edge of the Stringer 21, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Interposed between the frame 20 and the hopper 3G, there is a counting board 5| preferably formed of a libre material. The top face of the counting board 5| is divided into separate counting units by a dividing wall 52 secure to the top face of the counting board 5|, at the center thereof, by several nails 53, see Fig. 5. Secured to the side edges of the top face of the counting board 5|, by means of nails 54, there are edge strips 55, see Figs. 1 and '7. Between the adjacent faces of the dividing wall 52 and the edge strips 55 there are the separate counting units. Each of the counting units is sub-divided into a plurality of equal channels by a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel metal strips 55. The metal strips 55 are secured in position within complementary grooves 51 cut in the top face of the counting board 5|'. The channels are of a width to accommodate the particular type of tablet being countedand bottled and on the drawings, each of the counting units is illustrated as being comprised of ten channels, but that number may be varied as desired.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the hopper 30 is y positioned above the frame 20 a distance to snugly 3l receive between them the counting board 5 l. The counting board 5| is inclined downwardly and forwardly so that the tablets being counted will slide down within the channels under the influence of gravity and the front bottom edge of the counting board rests against the gate 45, so that the gate closes the bottom ends of the channels and prevents the tablets from spilling from the bottom ends of the channels, except when the Vgate is lowered as will be hereinafter explained.

Attached tothe stringer 28, intermediate of its j ends, by several screws 58, see Fig. 5, there is an L-shaped member 59. One arm of the L-shaped member 59 extends along the bottom face of the counting board 5| and is formed with a hole 6U aligned with a complementary hole 5| formed in the counting board'. A bolt 62 is extended through the aligned holes 6B and 5| and is threadedly engaged by a thumb nut 63 for securing the counting board 5| in position. When the bolt 62 is removed, the counting board 5| is free to be pulled from between the frame 20 and the hopper 35 at the rear end of the machine. To facilitate this pulling the rear of the counting board 5| is formed with a rearwardly extending When the counting board 5| is removed it can be interchanged with other counting boards (not shown) having a different arrangement of the channels so as to accommodate tablets of different thicknesses and diameters.

Mechanical means is provided for agitating the tablets placed within the hopper 30 to cause them to be continuously fed through the open bottom of the hopper and singly into the channels of the counting board 5|. The mechanical means is characterized by a shaft 65 rotati-vely aside walls v3 I, there is a brush 66 having four sets of laterally extending bristles 61. Thus, the brush 66 rotates with the shaft 65 when the shaft rotates. The free ends of the bristles 61 operate across the top face of a baffle plate 58 which is adjustably secured to the bottom face of the bot- 4 the bar 11 `to and fro.

tomwall 34 by several nut and bolt assemblies 69 which pass throughelongated slots 10 formed in the baiile plate 68. Adjustment of the baffle plate 68 permits it to be seated against the top edges of the metallic strips 56 ofy counting boards 5| of different thicknesses.

Extended across the space between the side walls 3| of the hopper 30, there is a wall 1| which is inclined downward and rearward substantially parallel to the bottom wall 34 of the hopper 30. The front end of the wall 1| is pivotally supported in position by means of bolts 12 so that the rear end thereof may be raised and lowered. The wall 1| is held in a desired adjusted position by means of bolts 13 which pass through elongated slots 14 formed in the side walls 3| l and which are threadedly engaged into the sides of the wall 1|. The slots 14 are arranged arcuately concentric with the bolts 12. Depending from the rear edge of the wall 1|, there is a baille iiange 15, see Figs. 3, 5 and 6, which extends the width of the hopper 30 along the back of the brush 66. As the wall 1| is raised or lowered, the spacing of the bottom edge of the baflie iiange 15 is adjusted with relation to the top face of the counting board 5| to control the passage of the tablets in the hopper 30 toward the brush 66.

An agitator 16 is provided within the hopper 3u` for stirring up the tablets within the hopper 30 so as to prevent them from becomingjammed up back of the space between the baffle flange 15 and the top face of the counting board 5|. The agitator 16 is characterized by a bar 11 slidably extended through the side walls 3| of the hopper slightly to the rear and above the back edge oflthe wall 1|, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. `Within the hopper 30, there is a plurality of fingers 18 depending from the bar 11. TheV top ends ofthe fingers 18. are bent to extend into complementary openings 19 `formed in the bar 11, and staples 89 secure the -top ends of the fingers 18 lin position. The fingers 18 are formed of relatively stiff wire and have their bottom ends bent into loops 8| to most effectively stir up the tablets when the bar 11 is oscillated to and fro.

Means is provided to simultaneously turn the shaft 65 to rotate the'brush 66 and to oscillate This means is characterized by a platform 82, see Figs. l and 9, disposed between the side walls 22 of the frame 20 and pivotally supported at its'rear edge upon the top edgeof the back wall 23, by means of a hinge 83. Mounted on the top face of the platform 82, toward `therear thereof, thereis an electric in an electric receptacle to furnish the electric current required Y to rotate the motor 84. A

nected in the cord 85 for controlling the supply of electric current to the motor 84.

The driven shaft 89 of the electric motor 84 is connected to a speed reduction unit 90 which is also mounted on the platform 82 forward of the velectric motor 84.

22concentric with the pivot `point of the hinge The speed Yreductionunit 90 has itsjdriven shaft 9| extended through anl elongated Aarcuate slot 92 formed vin the side wall' ward and engaged over a second pulley 95 mounted on an extended end of the brush shaft 65.' Thus, when the motor 84 is in operation, the brush 66 will be continuously rotated in the direction of the arrow A on Figs. 5 and -6 to brush the tablets back from the baiile plate 68 and permit the tablets to enter the channels of the counting board 5| one at a time and in single file.

Pivotally mounting the platform 82 and having the driven shaft 9| of the speed reduction unit 90 extended through the elongated arcuate slot 92 permits the platform 82 to adjust itself in agreement with the adjustments effected on the hopper 30 with relation to the guide rails 24. To insure a proper driving tension on the belt 94, there extends from the free edge of the platform 82, a pin 96 to which the top end of a contraction spring 91 is attached. The bottom end of the contraction spring 91 is attached to a pin 98 which projects from the front edge of the base wall 2| of the frame 20. The spring 91 also permits slippage of the pulley 93 with relation to the belt 94 in the event the machine becomes jammed and so prevents the tablets in the hopper 39 from being broken and pulverized.

The power to continuously oscillate the bar 11 to and fro is taken from the brush shaft 65. To accomplish this, there is mounted on the projected end of the shaft 65,v beyond the pulley 95,V a radially extending arm 99 from the free end of which a pin |00 extends to traverse a circular path as the shaft 65 rotates. A link |0| has its bottom end rotatively curled about the pin |00 and its top end rotatively curled about the free end of a crank |02 between a pair of cotter pins |03 mounted in holes formed in that free end of the crank. The crank |02 is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends upon the side wall 3| of the hopper 30 by means of several spaced brackets |04, see Fig. 2. The other end Y lmotor l84. Leading fromv the motor 84, there is Y an electric cord 85 having a-.plug 86 for insertion 03.` Mounted on the extended end of the shaft n 9|there7is a pulleyV Y93, see'Fig. 1, engaged by a continuous belt 94. The belt 94 'is extended up- ,ingr board 5| of the crank |02 is bent downward and turnablv extended into a complementary hole |05 formed in the adjacent end of the bar 11 of the agitator 16. When the shaft is rotated, the bar 11 will be oscillated to and fro so that the ngers 18 will stir up the tablets within the. hopper 30 so that they will continuously feed through the space between the bottom edge of the baille flange 15 and the. top face of the counting board 5|.

Mechanism is 'provided on the front ends of the angle irons 31 for holding back `the tablets, in the channels, behind a pre-selected number, when the gate 45 is lowered to permit that preselected number to spill .from the front lower ends of the channels of they counting board 5|.

`This mechanism is comprised of a U-shaped member |06 which is formed of a relatively stiff wire and which has the free ends of its side arms secured to the top faces of the horizontal arms 38 of the angle irons 31 by means of nut and bolt assemblies |01, see Figs. 1 and 2. The intermediate arm of the U-shaped member |06 extends across the top face of the counting board 5| and mounted on that intermediate arm there is a pair of aligned pressure pads |08; Vone pad for each of the tablet counting units of the count- The pressurev pads |08are formed of rubber so that they will not crush the tablets, in the channels, with which they are'engaged.

The U-shalped member |06 has a natural bias which holds'the bottom of the pressure pads |08 spaced from the top face of the counting board past the pads in the channels of the counting board. To limit the degree of spacing of the pressure pads |08 from the face of the counting board there are threaded into the angle irons 3l, studs |00 at the junction of the side arms df the U-shaped member |06 with its intermediate arm. The top ends of the studs |09 are formed with enlarged knurled heads ||0 by which the studs |09 can be adjusted, Washers III are slidable on the studs |09 beneath the heads IIB to be engaged by the U-shaped member |06 and limit movement thereof in a direction away from the counting board 5|.

As previously described, the angle irons 31 are adjustably mounted on the guide rails 24 for forward and rearward adjustment relative thereto. Mounting the U-shaped member |06 on the angle irons 3l, causes the member |05 to be adjusted with the angle irons 3'! with relation to the gate 5. Thus, the mere act of adjusting the angle irons 3l with relation to the frame 2e permits any pre-selected number of tablets, in multiples'of ten as there are ten channels in each of the counting units of the counting board 5| shown on the drawings, to be counted out by the machine. However, that multiple number can bev varied by substituting diierent counting boards having a diierent number of channels in each counting unitfor example, a board having five channels could be used so that the tablets could be counted out in multiples oi ve.

Means is provided for first lowering the U- shaped member |06 into its operative position and for then lowering the gate 45 to permit the pre-selected number of tablets to spill from the channels of the counting board 5|. The means is comprised of a lever I i2, see Figs. 4 and 5,

which is pivotally attached at its rear end to the bottom end of the depending arm of the L- shaped member 59 by means of asingle pivot pin IIS. A contraction spring IM has one end projected upwardly through an elongated slot II5 formed in the counting board 5I between the adjacent counting units thereof. That one end of the contraction spring II@ is bent into a loop IIS and is4 engaged over the intermediate arm of the U-shaped member I 06 between the adjacent ends of the pressure pads |08. The bottom end of the spring II 4 is bent into a hook which is selectively engageable with one of a line of complementary apertures I |8 formed in the lever I|2.

The elongated slot II 5 permits free adjustment movement of the U-shaped member |06 with the angle irons 3'! and when it is desired to'remove the ycounting board 5| from the machine, the loop IIB is disengaged from the U- shaped member |06 and passed downward through the slot II freeing the board 5| to be withdrawn from the machine. The natural bias of the U-shaped member |06 is such that it exerts a force greater than that exerted by the spring IM, fwhen the lever ||2 is in its raised position, or preferably, the spring ||4 is under no tension when the lever II2 is raised, so that the U-shaped member It@y will hold the pressure pads |08 in a normal raised position so that the tablets may have free passage beneath the pressure pads.

Depending from the front flange 46 of the gate 45, there-isa wire IIS. The Wire H9 has its ends attached to the front ilange 46 of the gate 'l5Y and has its intermediate portion looped beneath an intermediate portion of the lever I I2, so as to pull the gate 45 downward to an open position when the .lever ||2 is pivoted downward. The free end of the lever' ||2 is extended from the front of the machine and has the top end of a link |20, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, pivotally attached thereto. The bottom end of the link |20 is connected to a pivotally mounted foot pedal, not shown, so that when the foot pedal is pivoted the lever II2 will be pivoted downward.

The tablets in the channels of the counting board are'designated on Figs. l, 3, 6 and 7 of the drawings; by the reference numeral 2|. Normally, the gate 45 and the pressure pads |08 will be in the position shown in Fig. 6, and the tablets I2I will be free to slide downward in the channels of the counting board 5|, beneath the pressure pads |08 and arrange themselves single iile in the channels of the counting board behind the gate 45. When the lever ||2 is pivoted downward by depressing the foot pedal, not shown, the spring I|4 will be stretched eX- erting a pull which will draw downward on the intermediate arm of the U-shaped' member |05, against the natural bias of that member, and cause the pressure pads |08 to be engaged against the tops of the tablets I2| immediately below the pressure pads, see Fig. 6. This action will clamp those tablets I2`| against the top face of the counting board 5| and hold those tablets and all of the tablets behind those tablets, in the channels oi" the counting board, from sliding downward in the channels when the tablets to the front of those clamped tablets move away therefrom. As pivoting of the lever II2 is continued, the spring H4 will be further stretched increasing the pressure or downward pull on the intermediate arm ofthe U-shaped member |06; however, that increased pressure will be absorbed by the pressure pads |08 preventing the clamped tablets |2| from being crushed. Finally, during downward pivoting of the lever I I2, that lever will engage the 'wire I I9 and draw the gate 45 downward against the action of the iiexible wires 4S opening the bottom ends of the channels of the counting board 5|, so that all of the tablets I2I, to the front of those being held by the pressure pads |08, may slide from the bottom ends of the channels.

After the desired tablets have been discharged, the pressure on the foot pedal, not shown, is released and the tension on the spring I I4 will draw thelever I I2 back to its starting position. During the return movement, the gate 45 will rst be released to be returned to its normal position closingthe bottom ends of the channels of the counting board. Then the pressure on the U-shaped member |06 `will be released so that its natural bias will lift the pressure pads '08 oi the tablets I2| being clamped against the counting board 5|, so that the tablets in the channels may slide downward to fill the vacated space between the gate 35 and the pressure pads |08.

Mounted across the lower front ends of the guide rails 24, in front of the gate 45, there is a board |22 which is also supported on the frontmost stringer 2li. Chutesv |23, one for each of the counting units of the counting board 5|, are mounted on the board |22. Each of the chutes |23 is formed of sheet metal and eac-h has a base wall |24 and a pair of upstandingy forwardly converged side walls |25. Intermediate or" their widths each of the base walls I 24| of the chutes |23 is formed with a downwardly and forwardlyV extended groovedv portion? l|26 which extends for some distance beyond the apex ends of the converged'side walls |25 of the :chutes |23.

Removably mounted on the projected front ends of the grooved portions |26, there are nozzles |21, also formed of sheet metal, and -which have their free ends bent into substantially come tion by spring members |28 formed attheirends with hooks |29 which are engaged over the overlapped .portions of the grooved portions |26 and the nozzles |21. .Thus, when the hooks |29 are disengaged the nozzles |21 can be removed and replaced by other nozzles having diferent sized free endsV to be snugly received in diierent sized neck Yopenings of variousl types ofbottles.

On the front end of onev of the sidewalls |25 of Yeach of the lchutes |23, there is an extension |253,

seeliig.' 10, vwhichis bent to extend along the outer Yface of the other sidewall ofthat chute. The

' front ends ofthe side walls |25 are connected together by a connector |30 which is bent vertically to conform to the apex end of each of the chutes.

The top end |3|, seeFig. 11, of each of the connectors |30 is bent to extend over the top edges of the side walls |25 and so connect their front ends together. The :connectors are of a height to have their `bottom ends extend partially into the iopen tops of the grooved portions |26 `and so direct any tablets |2| lwhichspill into the chutes |23 into the grooved portions |26. rIfhel chutes` |23 are secured to the board' |22, by brackets 32 which have their topV ends bent to'extend over the' top edges of the side walls |25 intermediate of their ends. The

Vbottom ends of the brackets |32 aresec'ujred `to .the board |22 by means of screws |33.

, Whenthe gate 45 is lowered and'thetablets |j2| spill from the bottom ends ofthe {channels of the counting .board 5|, those tabletsiwillsbe'vcollected by the chutes |23 and Idirectedthrough''the grooved portions'lZ.; through the nozzles ,|21 and' j into the bottles positionedl uponthe'vfrontndsof thernlozzles |21. I i` Thoseportions between the pressure padsV |08 andthe front of the hopper 30, are covered by panesof glass |34.

v or the counting board '51, be2A tweenthegate `45 and the pressure pads `|06 and bicarbonate of soda and the like medicinal tablets, and such tablets when being handled by the machine form dust and small tablet particles which are separated from the tablets. To continuously rid the channelsof the counting board 5| of that dusty and tablet particles, each of the :channels is formed along its length with a plurality of spaced openings |39 through which the dust and tablet particles may freely pass to the underside of the counting board. Mounted beneath the counting board 5| on the frame 20 of the machine, there is a pair of adjacent dust and tablet particle collecting trays |40. Each of the trays |40 is formed of a'flat board |4| bounded along its front and side edges by narrow strips |42 secured in position by short brads |43, see Fig. '1.

As shown in Fig. 4, each of the trays |40 is of a length to extend between the'stringers 21 and 29 and the adjacent front corners of the trays are shapedto extend about the L shaped bracket 59, the spring I4 Aand the lever l| |2. As the Stringer 28 is narrowerrfthan the stringers `21 and 29, as previouslydescribed, by the depth of ther trays |40, thetrays extend continuously below the bottom edge of that Stringer 28.

Mounted onrthe Stringer of each of the trays |40, thereris'a block |44, each' of which isse'cured in position by several brads |45, see'Fig-4. The front ends of the trays V|40 are lrested on the blocks |44.V Latches |46 Vare pivotally mounted on the lStringer 29 `by means of pivot pins |41 to be pivoted beneath the rear ends of the trays to support the rear ends of the trays in position. When the latches |46 are pivoted so that their lengths extend parallel j to'the lentgh of the Stringer 29, the rear ends of the trays |40 will drop ldownward freeing the traysl to ,be lifted off the blocks |44 and to be re-V moved froml the back of the machine to be emptied ofthe collected dust and rtablet particles.

To' return the trays |40' to their normal position the above procedurey is reversed. ',The operationof'thefmachine is as follows:

Vlllrief desiredcounting board 5|, having the desired numberoic'hannels and the desiredV width ,OLchannel'sin each ofits counting units, is

The bottom corners oi the panes of glass |34 are Y disposed in lcorner brackets |35 which are secured to the horizontal arms of` the angle irons 31 by means of rivets |36. vTo retain the panes of glass |34 at the proper elevation `above the top edges 'of the metallic strips 56 to permit a free 4sliding movement of the tablets |2 I within the channels 'of the countingboard 5| andfstillA retain the tab-A lets in the desired single nle', elevating screws |31 are threaded through the horizontal arms 3870i theY angle irons 31 to'engagefthe bottom facesof 'the panes of glass |34. Lock nuts |38 are threadslipped into'ip'osition beneath the hopper v30 and' i'ssecured in position by the bolt 62 and' thumb Init 63,'see l1"ig'.5`.`` Thetablets |2| to be counted and bottled are then spilled into'the open top of the hopper 30. lThe 'switch' 81 `is then thrown toenergize the motor`84 to rotatethe brush `66 and oscillate` the bar 11 of the agitator 16 to and fro.

' Ihis willagitate the tablets |2| within the hopper and cause them "to slide single file downward in v the channels of the countingboard and stack edly mounted-on elevating screws |31 to be tighte n ened against the bottom face of the horizontal arms 3-8 of the angle irons 31 to hold the elevating screws i3? in `the desired adjusted position.

The panes of glass 34 are completely I removable so that when desired they can be lifted out of the corner brackets |35 to permit the channels y to be `conve nierlilyA Cleaned orto relieveajam'up Vjoftablets |2|f which might) form in anyone or more'of thechannels. y l The present machine is designed to count Aand Y. Abottle:url coated tablets; such as tablets rof aspirin.

up ,behind the gate 45. When the operator sees that all of the channels of the counting board 5| are completely nlled withtablets |2| he then momentarily stops the motor 84. A

The number of tablets |2| between the gate 45 and the pressure pads 06, in one of the channels, Varethen counted and if the board has ten channels ineach counting unit and it is desired to'bottle `|00 of the tablets, the number of tablets Vinthe counted'channel should be ten. The machine is then properly set, but if the counted tabletsfshould be a number other than ten, then the thumb nuts 44 are loosened freeing the angle irons" 31"tovbe slidforward or rearward,` as required, tobring theY pressure pads |08 overthe proper -1atera1 line of tablets |21, when i the proper adiustedposition is reached, the thumb '21st the frontend Ycontinuously in single iile 'assauts il nuts 44 are again tightened to hold the angle irons 3l in that adjusted position.

The motor 84 is again set in operation and two of the Vbottles to be lled are engaged upon the front ends of the nozzles |21. The foot pedal, not shown, is then depressed to pivot the lever H2 downward to engage the pressure pads I against the tablets |2| located therebeneath and to open the gate 45 to allow -all of the tablets |2l, in the channels, in front of the pressure pads |88, to slip from the bottom of the channels into the chutes |23. From the chutes |23, these dispensed tablets |2| will pass through the grooved portions |25, through the nozzles |21 and into the bottles engaged upon the nozzles. After all of the released tablets have spilled from the bottom ends of the channels into the chutes |23, the pressure on the foot pedal, not shown, is released permitting the gate 45 to be closed by the flexiblev wires 49 and permitting the U-shaped member |06 to raise the pressure pads `lili! oiT the tablets lZ to free the tablets |'2l which were held in the channels bythe pressure pads IUS to slide downward in thechannels and iill the vacated spaces between the gate 45 and the pressure pads |08. When the operator sees,v through the lowermost pane of glass |34, that all of the channels are'again lled and when fresh bottles have been engaged `upon the nozzles I2?, the foot pedal, not shown, is again depressed to lower the gate 45 and engage the pressure pads |08 against the tablets |2| located therebeneath- Periodically, the supply of tablets in the hopper 30 is'replenished and the motor 84 is allowed to continuously rotate to agitate the tablets in the hopper SVthrough the medium of the brush 66 and the agitator 'l to cause the tablets to be fed into the channels of the counting board. k Inthe modied form of the invention Shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the top pane of glass |34 has f its top edge extended into the' bottom of the hopper Se and formed' with a top bevel |60 across which Vthe, free ends of the bristles 6l of the brush Gfsisweep. The bottom'wallV 3d" of the hopper tlhasits innermost bottom endu stopped short or" the top face of the top pane ofV glassV istarld is provided witha baiiieplate 68' which engages `the top face of the top pane of glass |34'. In this form of the invention, the bailie plate 'et' comprises Va length of rubber secured along 1 one edge, as by cementing or the like, to the inner end of the bottom wall 34` with its free edge resting on the top face of the top pane of glass f' The mechanism on the front ends of the angle irons for holding back the tablets, in the channels, behind the pre-selected number which are e to spill from the channels when the gate is lowered, is also different from that used in the previous form of the invention. In-this modified form of the invention, the U-shaped member 106 of that mechanism has its intermediate arm formed with a channel la, see Fig. 14, in which the pressure pads |88 are mounted. The pressure pads Hi8 are in the form oi strips of rubber having their top edges cemented in position in the channel with their bottom edges projecting from the channel to engage the tablets |2| in the channels of the counting board-5| when the U.shaped member its is loweredY against the action of its natural bias.

This modied form of the invention adapts the machine to beused for bottling vary small 1:2 tablets preventing any jam of the tablets under the baffle plate 68 and the related parts of the machine. To adjust for differently sized tablets |2I, it is merely necessary to adjust the spacing of the panes of glass |34 and |34 relative to the "counting board 5l, by means of the screws |37 and the resiliency of the baille plate 68 will cause it to mimic movements of the pane of glass |34.

In other respects the modified form of the invention is similar to that previously described and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts in all of the views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope oi the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new andk desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably n mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to cause them to be fed singly into the channels of Asaid counting board, a gate at the front end or^ said counting board tol hold the tablets in the channels until released, Ymechanism for holding all oi thel tablets in the channels behind a pre-selected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of said saidvgate is lowered, said counting board having its channels subdivided into a pair of adjacent counting units with a chute for each of said unit-s, each of said chutes being formed of sheet metal and formed with a grooved portion -which has its front end projected beyond the front end of the body of the chute, a nozzle mounted on the projected front end of each of said grooved portions, and means releasably retaining said nozzles in position on said grooved portions.

2. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably hmounted on saidframe, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over saidv counting board to receive a lquantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to Y cause them to be fed singly into the channels of said mechanism into f operation, and a chute mounted on the front of said frame at theY lower ends ofisaid channels into which saidtablets are spilled-when saidA gate is lowered, said counting board having its channels ,subdivided into a, pair of adjacent counting units with a chute for each o f said units, each of said chutes being formed of sheet metal and -formed with a grooved portion ywhich has its front end projected beyond the front endof the :body of the: chute, a nozzle mounted on the projected front end ofeach of said grooved portions, and means releasably retaining said nozzles in position on said grooved portions said nozzles having their front ends bent into substantially a complete circle tobe received in the necks of bottles-to beiilledwith the tablets.

3. automatic tablet counting and. bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board having a plurality of counting channels ,removably mounted on' said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over saidcounting board to receive a` quantity ofthe tablets'to Y, be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tabletscontaine'clin the hopper toca'usethem to be fed'singly into the channels of said countingboard, a gat'e'at the front end of said counting board tof hold the tablets in the channels 4until released, mechanism Vfor holding all of the tablets in the channels behinda pre-selected lateralline of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to ,free the tablets in 'front Qof said lateral line to spill from the open bottom endsof i Y said channels, and means for'lowering saidgater and,simultaneously,bringing-said mechanism into loperation, and a chute mounted' on th `front'of i said frame at the lower ends of said `channels into which said tablets are spilledfwhenrsaid gate is "lowered, said counting jboardhaving its channels subdivided into a V pair'ro'f adjacent counting units with achuteffor each of said units, each' of said chutes being formed of` sheet metal and formed with a; grooved portion which has its front retaining means comprising springme'mbersfanld hooks. on the-free ends of said vspringmembers fto be engaged over .the top edges or the overl .lapped portions'oi said grooved portions andsaid ,fnozzleslsY l li.-An'automatic-table't counting-and bottling `machine.comprising aframe having a downwardlygand forwardlyinclined trop'vportionjja counting lboard havinga plurality of counting `chan- Y.

nelsv removably mounted on said frame, a hopper securing said angle irons on the sides of said frame to be adjustable in a plane extended parallel to the inclination of the top of said frame.

5. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to cause them to be fed singly intothe channels of said counting board, a gate at the iront end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism for holding all of the tablets in the channels behind a preselected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of said lateral-line to spill from the open bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering vsaid gate and simultaneously bringing said mechanism into operation, said adjustable mounting ofy said hopper comprising angle irons extended along the sides of said `frame, said hopper being mounted on said angle irons, and means adjustablylsecuring said angle irons on the sides or" said frame to be adjustable in a plane extended parallel to the inclination of the` top @said-frame, bolts extending from said framev andprojected through elongated slots ormedginsaid angle irons, and thumb nuts threadedonto saidbolts to be tightened against said angle `irons to hold said angle irons in adjusted positions Vwithin, the

. length of said slots forming the adjustable mounting of said angle irons.

6. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, acountingv board having a plurality of counting channels removablymounted on said frame, Ya hopper adjustably mounted,l on said frame overrsaid count-` ing k board ,to 'receive a quantity `of the z'tablets Vtolse cdunted and-1 bottled, means for' agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to causethem -to be feolsinglyA into the channels ofsaid counting` board, agateat `the front end of, vsaidvcountingboard to hold the tablets in the channels uni tiLreleased, mechanism for holding allsoi ,the

adjustably mounted 1on"said frame over said l lcounting board to' receive aquantity of i the tablets to be, counted and bottled, means for agitating the tabletspontained inthe hoppertocause them toghe fedj` singly into' the lchannelsof saidfcounting board, a gate `at thefront end of` said count- A ing board tohold the tabletsyin the channels l until freleased, mechanism for holding all of the tablets in thev channels` behind `a pre-selected f lateral line of tablets in the channels when fthe gate is lowered ,toV free the tablets in frontof 'said lateralline to spill' from the open bottom ends of saidchannels, and means for lowering said gateand simultaneously bringingsaid mechanism 'into operation, said adjustable mounting of said hopper` comprising angle irons extended along the sides of said frame, said hopper being mounted on said angle irons, and means adjustably tablets. in the channels' behind aV `pre-selected lateralV line of tablets in the channels when( the gate is loweredto` free the tablets in front of said `'lateral line to spill from the open bottom ends oisaid channels; Yand means-for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing said :mechas nism into operation, said adjustable mounting of said hopper comprising angle irons extended alongA the sides of said frame, said hopper-being mounted on said angle irons, and means adjustably securing said angle irons on the sidesof said frame to be adjustable in a plane `extended parallel to the,V inclination of the top of said frame, said angle irons having their front ends extended downward, and kforward along the sides of said vcounting board, said tablet holding mechanismbeingmounted on the front ends of said angle irons to be adjustable therewith.

7. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board havingv a plurality of counting channels removably-mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the 'atea-nee be vfed singly into the channels of said counting.

board, a gate at the Afront end Vof said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism Vfor holding all of the tablets inthe channels beh-ind a pre-selected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of said Vlateral line to spill from Vthe open bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing said `mechanism into operation, said adjustable mounting of said hopper comprising angle irons yextended along the sides of said frame, said hopper 'being mounted on said angle irons, and means adjustably securing said angle irons on the sides of said frame to be adjustable in a plane extended parallel to the inclination of the top ol 'said frame, said angle irons having Ytheir front ends extended downward and forward along the sides of said counting board, said tablet holding mechanism being mounted on the front ends of said angle irons to be ad-l justable therewith, and panes of glass, extended between the front ends of said angle irons and between said gate and said tablet holding mechanism and between said tablet holding mechanism and said hopper.

- 8. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly andV forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to'lbe counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to cause them to be fed singly into the channels of said counting board, a gate at the front end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism for holding all of the tablets in the channels behindga preselected lateral line of tablets in the channels when Vthe gate islowered Ato, free the tablets in front of said lateral lineY to spill from the open bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing Vsaid mechanism into'operation, said adjustable mounting of said hopper comprising angle irons extended along the sides of said frame, said hopper being, mounted on said angle irons, and

Y means adjustably securing said angle irons on the sides of said frame to be adjustable ina plane extended parallel to the inclination of the top of said frame, said angle irons having their front ends vextended downward and forward along the sides of said counting board, said tablet holding mechanism lbeing mounted on the front ends of said angle irons to be adjustable therewith, and panes of glass extended between the front ends of said angle ironsand betweensaid gate and said tablet holding mechanism and Ibetween said tablet holding mechanism and said hopper, and elevating screws threaded through said angle irons and upon which said panes of glass rest `for holding said panes of glass in a desired elevated position above the tablets in said channels.

9. `An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a 'counting board having a vplurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a

hopper adjustably mounted on said frame overV said counting board to receive a quanti-ty 'of the tablets lto becounted and bottled. means for agi.

'tating th'e'talble'ts contained vin the hopper to cause them to be fedsingly into the channels of 'said counting board, -a gate at the front end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism for holding -all `of the tablets in the channels behind a preselected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of said lateral line to spill from the open bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering `said gate and simultaneously bringingV said mechanism into operation, said Acounting board being formed of fibre board, and longitudinally extended laterally spaced metallic strips mounted in spaced grooves cut in said vbre board dividing off said channels.

10. An automatic tablet counting Aand bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a 'counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper ladjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to cause them to be fed singly into the channels of said counting board, a gate at the front end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism for holding all of the tablets in the channels behind a preselected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered toV vfree the tablets in front of said lateral line to Yspill from the open ,bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing said mechanism into operation, said counting .board being formed of fibre board, and longitudinally extended laterally spaced metallic strips mounted in spaced grooves out in said nbre board dividing` 01T said channels, collecting trays mounted beneath said counting board, said counting board being formed withrspaced openings in each offits channels through lwhich dust and tablet particles collecting in said channels may pass to fall-onto saidv trays.

171. An automatic tabletcounting and bottling `,machine comprising a kframe having a down- Wardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a

counting board `having a plurality of vcounting channels removably mounted Yon said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame 'over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitatingthe tabletsycontained in the hopper to cause them to be'fed singly intoY the channels of said counting board, a gate at the front end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until. released,` mechanism for `holding all of the tablets inthe channels behind a -preselectedV lateral line of: tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of said lateral liner to spill from the open bottom ends o'f said channels, and means for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing said mechanism into operation,` said agitating means comprising Ya rotative brush and V'an oscillatoryagit'ator mounted with said hopper, and a single motor controlled transmission for con- `'tinuously'rotating said brush and oscillating said agitator, and a pivotally mounted platform upon which the motor of said motor controlled transmission is mounted so that said transmission may automatically adjust itself to adjustments made in said hopper.

12. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a

counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board toreceive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper ing said mechanism into operation, said agitating means Ycomprising a rotative brush and an loscillatory agitator mounted with said hopper,v

'and a single motor controlled transmission for continuously rotating said brush and oscillating said agitator,`and a pivotally mounted platform upon which the motor of said motor controlled transmission is mounted so that said transmission may automatically adjust itself to adjustments' made in said hopper, said transmission including a belt drive, and means for urging said "-1 platform in a direction to properly tension said b elt drive.

13. An automatic tablet counting` and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and forwardly inclined top portion, .afi

counting lboard having a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted-on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to becounted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to cause v them to be, fed singly into the channels ofsaid counting board, a gatej'at the front end of said l counting boardto hold the tablets in the chanlnels until released, mechanism for holding all of vthe tablets in the channels behind a preselected vlaterall line of tablets in thechannels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of fsaid lateral line to spill from the open `bottom ends of said channels, and means for f lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing 1 said mechanismvv into operation, said agitating means comprising a rotative brush and an oscillatory agitator mounted with said hopper, and a single motor controlled transmission for contin uously Vrotating saidy brush and oscillating said agitator, a pvotally mounted wall Within said hopper, and a bafe flange depending from said pivotally mounted wall between said brush and said agitator to control the feeding of the tablets in the hopper from said agitator to said brush.

14. An automatic tablet counting and bottling machine comprising a frame having a downwardly and` forwardly inclined top portion, a`

counting iboardvhaving a plurality of counting channels removably mounted on said frame, a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the ecv tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agitating the tablets contained in the hopper to `cause them to be fed singly into the channels of said counting board, a gate at the front end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism for holding all of the tablets in the channels behind a preselected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free the tablets in front of said lateral line to spill from the open bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing said mechanism into operation, said adjustable mounting of said hopper comprising angle irons extended along the sides of said frame, said hopper being mounted on said angle irons; and means adjustably securing said angle irons on the sides of said frame to be adjustable in a plane extended parallel to the inclination of the top of said frame, said angle ironshaving their front ends extended downward and forward along the sides of said counting board, said tablet holding mechanism being mounted on vthe front ends of said angle irons to be adjustable therewith, and panes of glass extended between the front ends of said angle irons and between said gate and said tablet holding mechanism and between said tablet holding mechanism and said hopper, said pane of glass between said tablet holding mechanism and said hopper having itstop edge extended into said hopper, and a flexible baille plate mounted on said hopper and engaging the top face of that said pane of glass.

15. An automatic tablet counting and .bottling machine comprising a frame having a down-- wardly and forwardly inclined top portion, a counting board having a plurality of counting channels removably7 mounted on said frame, a hopper vadjustably mounted on said frame over said counting board to receive a quantity of the tablets to be counted and bottled, means for agivtating the tablets contained in the hopper to cause them to be `fed singly into the channels of said counting Aboard, a gate at the front end of said counting board to hold the tablets in the channels until released, mechanism for holding all of the tablets in the channels behind a preselected lateral line of tablets in the channels when the gate is lowered to free` the tablets in front of said lateral line to spill from the open bottom ends of said channels, and means for lowering said gate and simultaneously bringing said mechanism into operation, said tablet holding mechanism including a U-shaped member having a channel-shaped intermediate arm overlying the counting board, and strip of rubber'mounted in said channel-shaped intermediate arm Vand depended therefrom.

- GEORGE V. CREMIEUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,950,909 Totman Mar. 13, 1934 2,233,466 Ayers Mar. 4, 1941 

